CNA Classes Near Bellevue, WA: Programs, Costs, and Commute to Federal Way

Bellevue is about 25 miles from Federal Way by I-405 and I-5, a drive of roughly 35 to 50 minutes depending on traffic, and since March 28, 2026 the 2 Line has run from Bellevue Downtown Station across Lake Washington to International District/Chinatown, where the 1 Line continues south to Federal Way Downtown. That makes a 4-week, 108-hour Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) course at Huduma CNA Programs in Federal Way, priced at $1,100 tuition plus about $105 for books and supplies, a realistic option for an Eastside student, especially on the weekend pattern. Every approved Washington program teaches at least 108 clock hours (35 theory, 33 lab, 40 clinical) and every candidate pays the same $155 for the two-part exam, so a Bellevue resident is choosing among start dates, total cost, testing arrangements, and commute, not among different credentials.

Why a Bellevue resident would look south

Bellevue (population 151,854 at the 2020 census) has Overlake Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente's Bellevue Medical Center, and a large assisted-living and memory-care sector, so the jobs are local. Training is a different question. Eastside options tend to be college-based courses that run on the academic quarter, or facility programs tied to employment. A private 4-week course with a fixed price and on-site skills testing may not exist within Bellevue, which is why students from Bellevue, Factoria, Crossroads, and Eastgate compare the South King County schools. The new rail connection removed the biggest obstacle: before March 2026, a car-free Bellevue student had no rail link to Seattle at all.

Three ways from Bellevue to Federal Way

Times are approximate, from Sound Transit published information as of September 2026.

Sound Transit's 2026 service plan lists 1 Line trains every 8 to 10 minutes during the day, so the transfer at International District/Chinatown rarely adds more than a few minutes. Bellevue's Eastside stations (South Bellevue, East Main, Bellevue Downtown, Wilburton, Spring District, BelRed) all connect to the same trip. For the weekend pattern, a car is faster and I-405 traffic is lighter; for a weekday cohort, the rail trip lets you study on the train.

Program types available to Bellevue residents

The credential is identical across all four if the program is on the Washington State Board of Nursing approved list. What varies is calendar time to the exam, price certainty, and whether you must travel to a separate skills test site. The Seattle options, reachable from Bellevue on the 2 Line, are compared in CNA classes near Seattle, WA, and the college-versus-private tradeoff in community college vs private CNA school in Washington.

The full cost for a Bellevue student

• Tuition: $1,100 for the 4-week traditional course at Huduma; $800 for the 40-hour bridge if you hold an active Washington HCA credential.
• Books and supplies: about $105.
• Skills test: $100 to the test site, on site at Huduma.
• Knowledge test: $55 to Credentia, registered after the skills pass is recorded.
• DOH NA-C application: per the current DOH fee schedule.
• Commute: ORCA fare for the rail trip or fuel for a 50-mile round trip; over 20 class days the commute is a real line item, which is one reason Bellevue students often pick the weekend pattern and drive.

Total cost breakdowns and what is fixed by the state are in CNA certification cost in Washington.

Day pattern or weekend pattern from the Eastside

The day pattern finishes in four calendar weeks but means 20 round trips of 75 to 90 minutes by rail or 35 to 50 minutes by car. The weekend pattern spreads the same 108 hours over Saturdays and Sundays, cuts weekday commuting entirely, and suits Bellevue residents who work in tech, retail, or hospitality during the week. Both patterns include the 40 clinical hours in a licensed nursing facility and end with the skills test on site. If you choose the day pattern, the rail trip is long but predictable; if you choose weekends, plan to drive. The cohorts currently open are on the schedules page.

Jobs waiting on the Eastside

Overlake Medical Center at 1035 116th Ave NE, which finalized an affiliation with MultiCare in 2024, is Bellevue's hospital and one of the city's largest employers. Kaiser Permanente's Bellevue Medical Center provides primary and urgent care. EvergreenHealth in Kirkland is a short drive north, and Seattle hospitals are now one 2 Line ride away. Indeed job-posting data (August 2026) shows a Washington nursing assistant average of about $23.62 per hour and Kirkland at about $23.73; Bellevue is not reported separately. Employer detail is in CNA jobs in Bellevue, WA.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Federal Way from Bellevue for CNA classes? About 25 miles. Driving takes roughly 35 to 50 minutes via I-405 and I-5; rail takes 75 to 90 minutes using the 2 Line to International District/Chinatown and the 1 Line south.

Can I take light rail from Bellevue to a CNA class in Federal Way? Yes, since March 28, 2026. Ride the 2 Line from any Bellevue station to International District/Chinatown, transfer to a southbound 1 Line train, and exit at Federal Way Downtown.

Does Bellevue College offer a CNA course? Bellevue College is the city's public college. Confirm its current nursing assistant offering, dates, and WABON approval directly with the college before comparing it to a 4-week course.

Is a weekend CNA class realistic from Bellevue? Yes. Huduma CNA Programs runs weekend cohorts of the full 108-hour course, and weekend driving from Bellevue is typically under 45 minutes.

Do Bellevue employers accept a credential from a Federal Way school? Yes. Overlake, Kaiser, and long-term care employers verify the NA-C on the DOH Provider Credential Search, not the school's location.

How many hours must a Washington CNA program include? At least 108 clock hours under WAC 246-841A-440, versus a 75-hour federal minimum.

The CNA Traditional program page lists admission requirements, and the statewide steps are in how to become a CNA in Washington State.